eBPF Runtime Adaptation via Kernel Offset Inference

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing approaches for using extended Berkeley Packet Filter (eBPF) programs in monitoring/observability tools face challenges such as requiring a heavyweight compiler toolchain on the target host, which can impact production workload performance, and needing kernel header dependencies that are specific to the target host's kernel structure, making it difficult to infer structure information at runtime.

Innovation Solution

A method where a pre-compiled preflight eBPF program captures kernel structure information from the target host and inserts these values into pre-compiled sensor eBPF programs, eliminating the need for a compiler toolchain on the target host and allowing the sensor eBPF programs to execute using kernel-specific parameters.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If eBPF programs are compiled on the target host using a compiler toolchain, then the programs can access kernel data structures and execute with kernel-specific parameters, but the resource consumption increases and production workload performance is impacted

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveeBPF program execution capabilityVSAvoidresource consumption on target host

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-compiling eBPF programs on a build system before deployment to the target host. The build system performs the compilation in advance, generating binary eBPF programs that can be directly loaded and executed on the target host without requiring a compiler toolchain during runtime, thus eliminating the resource consumption and performance impact on production workloads.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the compilation process from the target host environment and relocates it to a separate build system. By separating the compilation step from the execution environment, the target host only needs to load and run pre-compiled binaries, removing the dependency on having a full compiler toolchain installed on the production system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Use of energy by moving object

If eBPF programs are pre-compiled on a build system different from the target host, then resource consumption on the target host is reduced, but the programs cannot access kernel headers and structure information at compilation time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource consumption on target hostVSAvoidcompilation process feasibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the build system acts as a mediator between the eBPF program source code and the target host. The build system retrieves kernel headers from the target host, performs compilation with proper structure information, and delivers the compiled binary to the target host. This intermediary approach resolves the conflict between pre-compilation benefits and compilation feasibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The build system performs preliminary actions by fetching kernel headers from the target host before compilation. This preliminary retrieval of structure information enables the build system to compile eBPF programs with the correct kernel-specific parameters in advance, ensuring compatibility when the programs are deployed to the target host.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If kernel headers are required at compilation time, then eBPF programs can be compiled with correct structure information, but the build process becomes complex and requires specific target host dependencies

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvekernel structure information accuracyVSAvoidbuild process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The build system serves as an intermediary that manages the complexity of kernel header dependencies. It automatically retrieves the appropriate kernel headers from the target host and provides them to the compilation process, abstracting away the complexity from the deployment process and ensuring accurate structure information is used without requiring manual configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11507353B1Adapting pre-compiled eBPF programs at runtime for the host kernel by offset inference

Publication Date: 2022.11.22 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

An approach is provided in which a method, system, and computer program product load a first program and a second program on a target host that includes a host kernel. The first program and the second program are both pre-compiled on a build system that is different from the target host. The method, system, and computer program product execute at least a subset of the first program on the host kernel and the subset of the first program captures a set of kernel structure information from the host kernel. The method, system, and program product load, at the target host, the set of kernel structure information into the second program at one or more placeholder locations. Then, the method, system and program product execute at least a subset of the second program with the set of kernel structure information on the target kernel.